Vashistha Diwan Speaks

Friday, February 28, 2014

873 Days, 20953 Hours, 1257120 Minutes....Tooo long a time isnt it?? Yes offcourse it is!! This is what it took me to write my next blog post. So what did i do during this time...Well i would say time well spent..traveled 15 countries, met new people, worked on like millions of business presentations and propositions, polished my photography skills ( Clicked some really nice Models ;) ), read 53 books, learnt a new language - Mandarin ( That wasn't easy ), shifted my base to a new country, changed my 1st job, put on a little weight :P, may be got a bit more mature ( At least i think so....no one else does...lol) and most important Got Married :) :)

But then i had to get back to my Long Lost Love!! Blogging. So off late i have been thinking on how busy people in corporate can contribute to the society and making world a better place to live. Today millions of people express their views/opinions/happiness/anger about issues existing today. Well appreciate your concern but what are you doing to contribute towards the execution???? Some of the classic examples i have seen in my network of friends.

1. Mr. Escapist....escapes again!!!Utter Non-Sense!! ( On a Chief Minister's resignation )
2. Really feel sad for the farmers situation..
3. May God give strength to the survivors from the Hurricane.
4. Met a group of Blind young students, very impressed with the progress of Blind School. Wish you very best for the future.
5. Cancer Research is doing a phenomenal job!! Keep it up!!
6. Just read about underage workers in Cocoa Fields. #Enraged

And there are many others examples..It is good that you are having a view and spreading it to people..But what did you personally contribute??? Did You ??? Most of the time the answer is NO.

Besides what is depressing is that the next status update is "Planning a beach holiday...Anyone interested?"..Is this is how we contribute to the society..There is nothing wrong in voicing a concern or an opinion but my request is contribute in making the change even though its tiny. Sponsor a child's education, take some time out of your schedule and spend it volunteering for the causes. help financially by supporting cancer research programs or by buying basic necessities for people in need or for people hit my natural calamities. There is always a way in which you can contribute it..You got to identify it.

I have a friend who gave up a highly paid corporate job to start a non profit organization.I was speaking to her and told its great there are so many people talking about it and helping in publicity. Do you know what she told me..of all the people who appreciate and talk about it hardly 3-5% actually contribute.....

Every minute little aid/contribution/time/support/grant ( You can call it anything) helps in making a DIFFERENCE.

I feel proud to say that i am contributing back to society..... DO YOU???

Regards,
VD

PS: I didn't want the blog to go in this direction but my thoughts overpowered and i am glad they did!!! By expressing my opinion if i am even able to make 1 person contribute back to the society..I will take it as a great start.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Its been two days since i started feeling ancient, loosing hair quickly, some getting white, kids calling me uncle...Woaaahhh i turned 26!!! OMG, i cant believe , i still feel am a 20 year old , enjoying my college days with all the memories afresh. I think i need a makeover :P

It was 18 when i had decided i want to be an entrepreneur in my life, no matter what i do , what scale i do , i always thought i will be an entrepreneur. I had plans of starting my own company by the age i was 25 and here i am 26 Without Control. Its time i get aligned to my dreams and start building it, as they say its never too late :)

One thing which i have learnt is , once one gets into a white collar decent paying job. A layer of cushion starts wrapping up us and one becomes too lazy to get out the cushion and venture out alone. The risk appetite reduces and one looks forward to last day of the month for more cushion to be added in the bank account.

I think i need to get my thoughts aligned, come out of cushion as soon as possible, gobble up more risk and do what i have always dreamt to do. I have to switch the Automatic mode off and get onto Manual mode to get control and steer my car wherever i want and stop wherever i like :)

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Let me warn you before you start reading, i am just writing this to format my conscious mind. Couple of days back i attended this session on Self awareness in my company and came to know there are three states of minds 1. Conscious, 2 Sub conscious and 3. Unconscious. Conscious mind is what is in our hand and when you are upset that's when u need to refresh it. Yes and that is what i am right now "UPSET" and i don't know why, multiple things going in my mind and am not sure what to do.In the sessions we were told that Oxygen (Deep Breath) helps us clear your mind and one can think calmly, but it aint helping me either.

I m stuck with a question of what lies Ahead?? Whats next?? Where do i go from here?? Personally and Professionally both. I hope by the time i near the end of the blog i will erase the Chaos which is there. And as i wrote the previous statement i suddenly felt better. Its after a long time that temper has hit me so hard and i don't know what to do :(

I think its been very long since i laid my hands on a book, i worked on my B-Plan and i talked to my old buddies (PS: All of them feel i have become busy man and i don't have time for them. I apologize for not being in touch). I think i need to take all this up on priority.

I feel better now, think will go and have some ice-cream at Baskin Robbins :)

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Its been long since there has been some activity on my blog (Thanks to my super work load :) ). The objective behind this post to convey special thanks to S. Anthony Iannarino who has been my motivation since quite a time now. He is a true Sales champ and his work across the Globe is a proof of it. Do visit his websites:

Saturday, June 26, 2010

I lay awake at 6 am in morning and was wondering what to do and then this hit me, Why not pay some respect to the most common word used everywhere and everyday in India "Jugaad". So i decided to talk to few people and ask them what is the thing that comes to their mind when asked "What is Jugaad?".

Asked almost 120 people on what is the first thing that comes to their mind about Jugaad, and following are some of the answers i got. I was Amazed.

• Setting

• Arrangement

• “Kaam Chalau”

• Next to Perfect

• Getting things done not in straight way

• Trap

• “Totta”

• Business

• Innovation

• Convenience

• Management

• Managing things out of the way

• Break-fix

• Patch

• “Maal”

• Quick solution

• Temporary solution

• “Jhol”

• Sales

• “Bechna”

• Bullshit

• Compromise in quality

• Makeshift solution

• Workaround

• Art of living in India

• Indian railways

• “Pataka!!”

• Politicians

• Frugally

• Small trick that will make a "BIG Difference"

• Adjustments

• Manipulation

• Way to make things happen in India

Of all this responses the most instant was when i asked one of my friends "what is Jugaad" and he replies within a second with a Name of my classmate and i was rolling on the floor and laughing. :D :P

To summarize Jugaad is a quickfix or workaround or temporary solution to almost any problem. It is the way of making things happen in India

I believe we should have "Jugaad Day" just like valentine's day, friendship day etc. But the challenge is to select a specific day as we celebrate this day 365 days a year. Instead i suggest we should wish each other "Happy Jugaadu day" instead of Good Morning everyday :P :D. Guess it will help not only during morning but address all the problems throughout the day. For e.g. problem at office/college "Kuch Jugaad laga na, khatam karte hai". Problem with bike or car..you tell your mechanic "Kuch Jugaad ker ke abhi ke liye chalu ker de".

And above all "Happy Jugaadu day" gives you assurance that whatevar happens throughout the day , whatever problem crops up, there will always be "Jugaad" for it.

Dedicated to all the Jugaadus across India. I guess the system will break down if the word is removed from Indian Dictionairy.